Updated Security Risk Assessment Tool Released to Help Covered Entities with HIPAA Security Rule Compliance

HIPAA Technical Safeguards

The Department of Health and Human Servicesโ€™ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released an updated version of its Security Risk Assessment Tool to help covered entities comply with the risk analysis provision of the HIPAA Security Rule.

The risk analysis is one of the most important elements of the Health Insurance Portability an Accountability Actโ€™s Security Rule. The purpose of the risk analysis is to identify all risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). If a risk analysis is not conducted, or if it does not include all systems, devices, and locations where ePHI is stored, risks are likely to be missed and will then not be included in an organizationโ€™s risk management process.

The risk analysis provision of the HIPAA Security Rule causes problems for many HIPAA-covered entities and business associates. Noncompliance with this HIPAA provision is the most common HIPAA violation to attract a financial penalty.

To help covered entities and their business associates comply with this aspect of the HIPAA Security Rule, the HHSโ€™ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and OCR developed a Security Risk Assessment Tool to guide covered entities and their business associates through the risk assessment process.

The Security Risk Assessment Tool will be of most use to small to medium sized healthcare organizations and will guide them through conducting a compliant risk assessment. Use of the tool will not guarantee compliance with this aspect of the Security Rule, and other federal, state, or local laws, and it is not an exhaustive or definitive source on safeguarding ePHI, but it will help them comply with this important Security Rule provision and ensure adequate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards are implemented.

The latest release incorporates several new features that improve usability. These new features were added as a result of feedback from users of the tool.

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The new features include enhancements to the user interface, custom assessment logic, modular workflow, a progress tracker, more detailed reports, business associate and asset tracking, and threats & vulnerabilities rating. Other updates have been made to improve the overall user experience.

The new Security Risk Assessment Tool โ€“ Version 3.1 โ€“ can be downloaded on this link.

About Liam Johnson

Liam Johnson has produced articles about HIPAA for several years. He has extensive experience in healthcare privacy and security. With a deep understanding of the complex legal and regulatory landscape surrounding patient data protection, Liam has dedicated his career to helping organizations navigate the intricacies of HIPAA compliance. Liam focusses on the challenges faced by healthcare providers, insurance companies, and business associates in complying with HIPAA regulations. Liam has been published in leading healthcare publications, including The HIPAA Journal. Liam was appointed Editor-in-Chief of The HIPAA Guide in 2023. Contact Liam via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamhipaa/